MASONIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 30

MASONIC.

The annual meeting of the District GjMnd ' Ige of Ofcago and Southland (English Cbaifiution) was bold on the 18hb within fche (jortaig of the Lodge of Duaedin No. 931 ; There »« a full attend *>noe nf tbe rai*nrib«rs of District Grand Lodge with m-mbeiM of the »i«*er cmsibufions of Sootlaud and Ireland. Tho communication of the District Grand Lodge was oprtned in dua form by the R.W. Bro. T. S -Graham, RW. District i+rand Muster, assisted by W. Bro. S. /James, P.D.D.U.M., fend the routi/ie feu ine*s of the anuutl pesMon h»vng b-«ii iransacted the R.W.D G.M invested hie o'fficsrs for the. year as follow. :— D.D GM. and D G Secretary, Bro. S. James ; D G.S W , Bro. J, ChUmrrs, F.M., 1128 ; D G.J W., Bro. G Jeffrey, P.M., 1128; P.B.GP.. Bro. C. de Longueville Graham, P6SW ; treasurer, Bro J. H. Hancock, P.M, 844 ; chaplain, Bro. T. Cole; registrar, Bro. J. S Kvan*. P '■* . 931 ; S.D.. J Johnson, WM , 844 ; J.D., Bro H Smith, W.W., 931 ; superintendent' of works. Br> D. C Sh*rp, s cretary, 942 ; director of cer»monrea, Bro. J. H. Bloir ; gwordhearar Bro J. Craig, W.M , 942 ; organfefc, Bro. A L. Robartson, 931 ; pursuivant, Bro. A B'vjliy, 931 ; District Grand Tyler, Bro. H. W. Meyer. The B<>*rd of D.G. Sfewi r<jh comm-foes Bros. W. D. Btmard, J M'lndoe, C Jtt nb«pn R Binuie, F. Marshall, and P. Foot . Toe B>-rd of G-ner»l Purvoses contents <-t W Br>. C. J de Longueville Graham, P.B.S.G.W. (president), with the W. Bros P.M.'s B. F. • Green, J. St'ne, D. Cam>ron f and J. i Hanconk, togfther with four b.-eth-en ap- ' pointed by the R.W. District G.-*nl Ma-ter. The Board of Bflnevolence t« forni'd by tbe W Bcos Charles de Longu^villeG-'him, E R Gr-f-o, J Sfcon<«, and D. Cameron; the D.G. Seciofary and D G Treasurer being ex ojjicio ' members of -both boards. In investing his officers the RW.D.G.M. addressed each of th^m very impnMsively on the nature of their duties, and on resuming his seat was h/ noared by acjlamaMon from a'l present . Tbe 1 R.W.D.GM. then addi^»s-d the D.G L dge on p'oiut* of interest to fch.e cr-ift, aa4 »»ft*rwarda W. Bro Sydney J'.mes, P.D D G.M., • in the name of and on b>-h*lf of a number of the brethren, presented ths. RWD6M wit-h an oil pointing ropreseotfng him in bis robes of office, from the bru-h of Mr A. H. O'Keeffe. The portrait is an excellent one, and on being unveiled met with a ni'on'aneon* bursfc'nf app'aii- I**1 ** W B o. Jamb* in making tbe presentation,, said : " Right Wornhipful Sir,— l have been requf etedby the subscribers Fo'the painM'u^ atw before yoa, in which jou appear in your regnli* aa District Grand Master, for Otago and Southland, to become their mouthpiece in its presentation to you. : lam well aware that there are many oisberg who could have dope better than myself, so far as mere words are concerned, on this occasion ; but I know that there, are none to whom it would have given greater p'eware, and I believe that tl^ra are 'none in Otwgo, either in or out of MUsonry, that have known you bo long as mjself. The many offices to which you have been elected at different periods of your life' in this city by your fellow citizens shows at once the inspect in which you are heir l . Now, RW. Sir, I can again say that I have known you in your BJa'onic capacity loDger than anyone in th's ball. I fiod on reference to Masonic recorda that you joiued the Lodge of Ofcago from No. 8 Irish Constitution in September 1865, and acted as its secretary, and that on the 27th day of June 1882 you firat occupied the chair as District Grand Matter. Siuoe that time I have been moit intimately acquainted with you as your D.G. secretary and for the last few years as your acting deputy, and I believe that there is nu one who h»s more conscientiously carried out the duties «£ bis high office. It would be injpoieible, I »a I

aware, R.W. Sir, in the . circumstances which have recently, occurred, to hold your office with* oat treading upon the, corn* of someone ; bad I know thai; 70a have endeavoured, wbila remembering the duties -you hold to the eonrca froni'wnioh yon are appointed, fee carry oat those d'luc-. iff the province of Otajo *nd Soulhttmdiu a th&nner which h*s always mad* you respected amongst the true Hmohs over whom yon have rnled. I might, EW. Sir, state a great deal more of my personal knowledge of you and dilate upon your excelUnoef, but I know that you are one who cares nothing for flattery, and I trust you and the brethren will exeu»e my shortcomings on fchia occasion. I now, R.W.D.G.M., in the n»me o£ fcbesubscriborx, pseseut you with, this portrait, and hope th*t it will show yonr children, as tfx-y look upon it, the respect and esteem 'in which you bave always been held by your M?.sonic brethren. And in cpnclusion, RW. Sir, lam desired 1 to ask you to allow the portrait to remain on thete walls for a short period in order thftfc the meinbars of our fraternity may have an equal pleaeute in. looking upon tile features o£ one of the best representatives of the craft in I -New ; 2Jsal»nd." — (Applause.) I The R.W. D. a. Master acknowledged th<» presentation in very feeling terms, and. alluded to the kindly fueling which hud always existed feetweoif the members of the craft- and himself. The W. Bro. Jambs, who alluded' m feeling term< to the dH*th of thektaD G. Trt-*sureT, Bro. it. Bamfield (to whose widow a vote of condoience mt recorded), returnad thauk» on brhalf of , the grand ofiiiers, *nd the Grand Lodge was closed' in due forax. ' Afterwards the officers and mombscs were suitably efntertsdned . by the W M., Be-». H. Smith, of the Lodge of Danedfn, ayd his officers.